Sublime, one of six $21 Baked Sculpting Contour Trios in the newish Sephora Collection, consists of one pan with three shades — a luminizer for highlighting, a matte-satin bronzer for defining and contouring, and a matte-satin blush for cheek color.

At least, that’s how it’s designed, with those three functions in mind, and I’m sure lighter skinned lasses can probably use it that way, but I think of this trio as primarily a highlighting palette, which is where the Hourglass Ambients come into play.

Sublime with all three shades mixed together (far left) and three shades swatched individually (on the right)

Two of the three shades in Sublime are nearly identical twins of two amazing Hourglass Ambient shades. Specifically, Sublime’s lightest shade (the one designed for highlighting) is the spitting image of the champagne pearl Ambient Powder in Luminous Light, while Sublime’s darkest shade, the sun-kissed golden beige, could headline a show in Vegas as a Radiant Light impersonator.

And Sublime’s pink middle shade also reminds me of a warmer version of sheer lavender pink Hourglass Ambient Powder in Mood Light.

Sublime with all three shades mixed together on the far left, and its three shades swatched individually on the right

The special sauce is Sublime’s finish. All three of its powders impart the same soft candlelit glow (more of a soft glow than a frosty shimmer, so it plays well with my pores) that I love the Hourglass Ambients for, and it’s something I haven’t seen at many other brands.

I think this pan is a STEAL at $21, and worthy of jumping in your hot tub time machine and going back to yesterday to get, so that you could already have it on your cheeks right meow.

You know — that person who probably doesn’t need weird kitchen doohickeys but still wants them anyway.

The Pini Ace Hardware in Novato is where it’s at!

The other night I discovered that the Pini Ace Hardware in Novato contains a plethora of rand-o kitchen utensils, doodads and culinary accoutrements.

Who knew?

I’ve actually been spending a lot of time there lately because of Tabs. El Hub and I are building that enclosure/private tower/playpen for him, which has resulted in us taking a lot of trips to the hardware store, usually after dinner at night (we go at least three times a week).

What typically begins as a trip to get gloves or screws usually ends with me marveling at something interesting but altogether unnecessary in the kitchen aisle, like the Fox Run Banana Slicer ($1.95) at the top, which perfectly portions your bananas into convenient slices (great for cereal!).

The Chop2Pot Plus

Or, there’s the Chop2Pot Plus…

Don’t you hate it when you’ve chopped a few carrots or tomatoes on your cutting board, and then when you go to carry them over to the pot — whoops! — the cats trips you up and you accidentally spill them all over the floor?

If you’re a baller and hit the $500 level…1) can I come over to your house and play? And 2) you’ll also receive a matching Eddie Borgo wristlet and samples of Sisley Black Rose Cream Mask, Chantecaille Rose de Mai Face Oil and Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair, in addition to all the stuff you get for hitting the $125 level.